Jean Shorts Are Back. These Are the Best Ones to Buy

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FOR BETTER or worse, love it or hate it, jean shorts are back. Honestly, this shouldn’t be a surprise. Despite being the punchline of many fashion jokes, jean shorts have been popular for just as much time, if not more, than unpopular over the past fifty years. Daisy Duke in the 1970s, JNCO in the 1990s, and Original Hipsters in the 2000s all made the abbreviated version of denim look good. Now, celebrities like Pharrell, A$AP Rocky, and Zac Efron are showing off the various ways make downsized denim look good. The current jorts moment that we’re living in is incorporating all the various looks from a long and storied history. Which means there are so many options out there to start wearing jorts this summer, if you aren’t already.

Just like a full length pair of jeans, the best jorts start with good denim. While most shorts are made from light materials like chino or polyester, jeans should be sturdier but still flexible. What you trade off in breathability and weight, you more than get back in the rich denim texture. Therein lies the appeal that keeps bringing jean shorts back again and again, the look of jeans with the comfort of shorts. So enjoy both at once with this collection of the best jorts for men available right now.

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8" Denim Shorts in Medium Wash

Madwell really hit a sweet spot that encapsulates the current jean shorts moment. A classic five pocket design that is not too short, not too long, just baggy enough without going overboard. Three colors are available, but the Medium Wash provides a perfectly lived-in look that complements bright summer colors.

We loved how these shorts looked with a short sleeve button down shirt, worn open with either a t-shirt or tank top underneath. That is the essential summer jorts look right now. Throw on a pair of slip-on sneakers and you're good to go.

Carpenter Jean Short

Turns out that dads all over the country have been on to something. The universal and utilitarian appeal of carpenter jean shorts that hit right at the knee is more stylish than we initially thought. Lee makes some quintessential dad jorts that look good far beyond backyard cook outs.

We went with a 90s skater-inspired look for these, pairing them with an oversized graphic tee and some slip on sneakers. You could, of course, lean into the dad look with a polo and New Balance 990s. Best of all, you've got easy access to a hammer if you need it.

Read more: Best Dad Jeans

Mason Cargo Denim Shorts

Built from a light weight, 100% cotton denim, these elastic-waisted jean shorts are super comfortable and easy to style. We really liked the beach vibe they gave off, which made them perfect vacation shorts. While the cargo pockets are mostly aesthetic, they do offer some extra pocket space when you're away from home.

The washed out look, with combinations of white and light blue, looks really good with textures. Rock these jorts with a floral aloha shirt or a graphic tee with a bold design. Regardless, you'll be comfortable with the drawstring elastic waistband.

Black Chopper Denim Shorts

One of the best jorts styles is (you guessed it) an old pair of jeans that got cut off into shorts. If you don't happen to have a pair of black jeans with a perfect fade on had to take a pair of scissors to, Ksubi has a pair ready to go. A frayed hem and button fly sell the these-used-to-be-jeans look. Cut to sit an inch or so above the knee, this is a pretty standard inseam these days.

The early 2010s look of these jean shorts was a big appeal, thanks to the nostalgia of it. A big, bushy, un-ironic mustache is optional.

Check-5 Baggy Denim Shorts

Jean shorts got really, really big in the 1990s, dropping down bellow the calf and ballooning to a size that could easily fit a full grown man in one leg. Thankfully, Vans brought back a modest style from the decade that is just baggy enough and hovers around the knee. You've seen this look on Justin Bieber and Jayden Smith recently, and they make a solid case.

We gave baggy jorts a try and found that you really have to commit to the look. Everything else that you wear has to be oversized to maintain symmetry. Staying true to the skateboard and hip-hop cultures that pioneered the look is crucial.

Premium 501 '93 Shorts

Levi's 501 maybe the most iconic pair of jeans ever designed. So it makes sense that beating a pair into submission then cutting down to a 7 inch inseam would make a damn fine pair of jorts. In an effort to save you a significant amount of time, Levi's was kind enough to put in all that distressing work for you. Resulting in a great lived-in look.

These shorts added some flavor to any outfit when we swapped them in for a typical pair of chino shorts. The universal appeal of denim means you can wear these jorts with just about anything and add an extra dimension to the outfit.

The Dream Jort

In a departure from their ultra comfortable stretch fabric, elastic waistband shorts, Chubbies followed through with true 100% cotton denim for the Dream Jort. True to the brand is the short inseam, hitting at 5.5 inches. Chubbies even encourages you to cut off the legs a bit for an even shorter inseam and a frayed hem. Either way, these are a true throwback to the early days of jorts in the 1970s and 1980s.

Of all the jorts we tried out, these were the most fun. Men's shorts inseams tend to get generally shorter each year and we're here for it. That 5-to-6 inch range is the sweet spot, so Chubbies nailed it.

9" Classic Fit Selvedge Cut Off Jean Short

Here is something that you don't see often, selvedge denim shorts. The much-coveted cut from the end of each spool is almost exclusively saved for a brand's priciest jeans. Todd Snyder made the daring move of cropping selvedge denim into shorts, providing a subtle but unique look. They come with a frayed endm, but you will probably want to roll them up to show off the selvedge detail.

In sticking with the selvedge theme, we wore these with a plaid button down shirt at one point and a denim western shirt at another. We also liked them with a plain white t-shirt to put all the attention on the jorts.

Blue & White Denim Shorts

Dries Van Noten offers an intriguing take on jorts with this SSENSE exclusive. A big, baggy 90s style jean short has been dipped in bleach for blue and white finish. There is a DIY element that makes them fun. These are the type of jean shorts that most celebrities are rocking now a days.

Think of these as essentially classic baggy jorts with a bold customization, which is why we found them so easy to style. Tuck in a short sleeve button down or leave a graphic tee untucked and you're good to go. We found that the high socks with sneakers look went well with the long inseam.

6.5-Inch Prepster Denim Short

Polo took a drawstring chino short, a longtime favorite of preppy and Gorpcore camps, and built it out of lightweight denim. The result is a super comfortable jort with a short inseam. A well faded look provides a light blue denim texture that is perfect for summer, like these shorts have seen plenty of surf and sun.

A bold colored rugby shirt contrasted well these jorts. We also liked the way a white crewneck sweatshirt created an almost-monotone look, perfect for summer nights out. Best of all, you get the jorts look while feeling like you've got swim trunks on.

More Great Jorts

Slim Built-In Flex Cut-Off Jean Shorts

Get that cut off, lived in jorts look right out of the box. Like your favorite pair of jeans saw some things and had to be cut short to stay in action.

Straight Denim Shorts

Acid wash fading makes a beautiful sky blue denim that works perfectly for shorts. These cut=off jorts from 7 For All Mankind will complement all your fun, flashy summer shirts.

Laser Print Patchwork Denim Shorts

Although it looks like artistic fading, the light blue floral pattern is actually printed onto these jeans. Let the jorts be the center of attention here. Pair them with a plain white tee and some slip on sneakers.

Loose Fit Denim Short

Wrangler's signature "W" back pocket embroidery is synonymous with great jeans. So of course it looks good on a pair of cut off jorts. The cracked fade, often associated with 90's fashion, really completes the vintage look.

501 Hemmed 9"

A nice charcoal gray is pretty versatile, easy to match with just about anything in your wardrobe. These Levi's add the twist that they used to be black before undergoing some serious fade.

What to Look for in Jorts

Guidelines for picking the right pair of jorts look similar to picking the right pair of jeans. Choosing a proper denim is paramount. Which means you want predominantly cotton, with 2 to 5% of elastane in the mix if you prefer stretch. Just as with jeans, the fit should complement your body type as much as the look you’re going for. Bigger thighs look better with a roomier (i.e. relaxed) fit while slimmer legs are best suited for a slimmer fit. You also want to select an inseam that you’re comfortable with so it is best to start out with a pair that matches the short length you commonly already wear.

If you’re venturing into jorts territory for the first time, we recommend easing in with a standard five pocket denim. Given the current rise of the trend, there are plenty of adventurous options out there. If your personal style bends towards the bold, then by all means, have fun with it. However, it is definitely easier to incorporate a simple pair of “dad shorts” first.

How to Style Jorts

When it comes to styling denim shorts, you have to consider how baggy and long you want them to be. There are essentially two schools of thought on jorts: The retro look that drops below the knee, or close to, and runs baggy. This often includes cargo and carpenter shorts. Complete the retro look with oversized t-shirts, button downs, and light jackets. High ankle socks with sneakers are a good way to complete the look.

The other way to style jorts is to simply think of them as the shorts you’re used to, just in a different fabric. This applies to any jean shorts that fit common contemporary short criteria of inseams running from 5 to 8 inches, slim fitting, and featuring a standard five pocket design. This route offers a wide range of styling because you can pretty much wear them with anything in your wardrobe, from aloha shirts to oxfords. Complete the look with loafers or sandals.

What Are Jorts Shorts?

Jean shorts, abbreviated to jorts, are just that. Any kind of shorts that are made out of denim. Full length jeans can be cut down into a short inseam, often leaving a desired fraying, or the garment can be short to begin with. The variation in jean shorts designs are just as wide ranging as chinos or any other material used to make shorts. The only reason that jorts are so often separated into their own category is an infamous fashion history.

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